THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE by Dan Gemeinhart

Realistic Fiction, Families, Grief, Fathers and Daughters

344 pages

Description

Twelve-year-old Coyote and her father rush to Poplin Springs, Washington, in their old school bus to save a memory box buried in a park that will soon be demolished.

From the Publisher

Five years.That's how long twelve-year-old Coyote and her dad, River, have lived on the road in an old school bus, criss-crossing the nation.It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters.Coyote hasn't been home in all that time, but when she learns that the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished--the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box--she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state . . . without him realizing it.On the way, they'll pick up an eclectic group of folks. Lester has a lady love to meet. Salvador and his mom are looking to start over. Val needs a safe place to be herself. Coyote will learn that going home can sometimes be the hardest journey of all, but that with friends, she just might be able to turn her 'once upon a time' into a 'happily ever after.'

My Comments

I love this book, but wish Coyote was 14 years old instead of 12. This is a thoughtful novel, but I don't think tCoyote's age rings true. I also wish that authors would think carefully about the age of their audience. A 12 year old protagonist  effectively eliminates 7th and 8th grade readers. The suggested grade range

UNDER THEIR SKIN by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Science Fiction,  Mystery, Thriller, Brothers and Sisters, Extinction, Robots

311 pages

Description

From Follett

Twelve-year-old twins Nick and Eryn investigate why their mother and new stepfather are keeping secrets, why they are forbidden to meet their stepsiblings, and, most important, why their lives are in danger. 

From the Publisher

From New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix comes the first book in a brand-new thrilling series about twins who are on a quest to discover the secrets being kept by their new family.

Nick and Eryn's mom is getting remarried, and the twelve-year-old twins are skeptical when she tells them their lives won't change much. Well, yes, they will have to move. And they will have a new stepfather, stepbrother, and stepsister. But Mom tells them not to worry. They won't ever have to meet their stepsiblings.

This news puzzles Nick and Eryn, so the twins set out on a mission to find out who these kids are--and why they're being kept hidden. 

My Comments

 Page turner! Very accessible for middle school, but still engaging. This would be a great group/class discussion book on topics such as the role of robots, prejudice, human error, decision making, and secrets. Can't wait to read book 2: In Over Their Heads!

EACH TINY SPARK BY Pablo Cartaya

Realistic Fiction, Family, Friendship, Hispanic American, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Multicultural, Perspectives

Downloadable discussion guide from Follett

315 pages

Description

Booklist (August 2019 (Vol. 115, No. 22)) Grades 5-8. If you've ever wondered how it is inside the mind of a person with inattentive type ADHD, this book offers a peek. Emilia Rosa struggles with her distractibility, but when something interests her, like tinkering with old cars or the controversies surrounding some district rezoning in her Georgia town, she latches on and digs deep. Her middle-school social studies project on local tourism brings out the activist in her, leading to a chain reaction that causes some minor hullaballoo in her school. Meanwhile, Emilia is trying to reconnect with her father, who's home from active duty; missing her mother, who's working away from home; and struggling to understand her abuela. This story covers themes like honoring your roots, seeking the truth, cultivating empathy, and being a good communicator. Besides a look at a distractible thinker's thought processes, this book also offers insight on the immigrant experience. For Emilia, all it takes is one, tiny spark to get the ball rolling, and plenty of kids will relate to her passion and perseverance.

My Comments

A good selection for book groups, literature circles, class read, or a read aloud. There are many themes that could generate meaningful and relevant discussions in a class. I suspect that the book may be a little long for some readers, so I will choose carefully when recommending, however, it is a good choice for teachers seeking new class books. One note: the story is about a sixth grader which unfortunately may narrow the grade level of interested middle school readers.

MAGESTERIUM SERIES BY Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Good & Evil, Magic295 pages

Description

From FollettWarned away from magic all of his life, Callum endeavors to fail the trials that would admit him to the Magisterium only to be drawn into its ranks against his will and forced to confront dark elements from his past. 

From the PublisherFrom NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a riveting new series that defies what you think you know about the world of magic.Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial. Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail. All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him. So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing. Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future. The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . . From the remarkable imaginations of bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a heart-stopping, mind-blowing, pulse-pounding plunge into the magical unknown.

My Comments

So good! This is one of those series that I can't wait to find time to sit down and read. The audio is also excellent. It is totally middle school appropriate, not too difficult a reading level, and a page turner. I would recommend this to fans of J.K Rowling, Rick Riordan, The Last Apprentice by Delaney, and another favorite of mine and my students...Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.